NCJ Number
91181
Date Published
1981
Length
187 pages
Annotation
This study, based on 1980 survey data, provides information on the availability of selected Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), State, and locally funded services for battered women and their families; legal and administrative constraints on such programs; and other factors affecting service delivery.
Abstract
The State survey conducted telephone interviews with administrators from 484 HHS programs throughout the country, while the community survey focused on 15 States, gathering data from 1,313 administrators and direct service staff in 444 programs. Two Indian reservations and five communities in California were selected for special analyses. The surveys revealed that few staff in HHS programs were focusing on battered women as a special population and often were operating without a definition of domestic violence. Many respondents did report that program staff were trying to help battered women through coordination efforts with other agencies. Among all HHS programs surveyed, some staff identified themselves as advocates for domestic violence victims. These individuals were more likely to work in alcohol and drug abuse treatment, social services, child welfare, and child protective services. A vast majority of HHS respondents believed that domestic violence was a severe problem, largely caused by economic factors. Respondents viewed barriers to service as resulting from governmental regulation, limited program resources, community attitudes, and victims' characteristics. Many identified the lack of intake procedures to identify battered women as an important barrier. These findings coupled with the community survey data indicated that there is no one program that can meet all service needs of battered women. The report provides recommendations from respondents on training and technical assistance that would enhance service delivery and highlights components of programs studied which benefit victims and their families. An executive summary and tables are included. For related materials, see NCJ-91182 and NCJ-91183.